Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 2 November 2021
175. Deputy Paul Murphy asked the Minister for Transport his plans to address the anomaly whereby a person could be refused a driving licence test in their car by the Road Safety Authority for not having a valid NCT disc on the day of their test given their NCT could be valid by virtue of the four month extension. [52074/21]
Amharc ar fhreagraAny vehicle that is to be used during the course of a driving test must hold a valid National Car Test (NCT) certificate. As the Deputy has noted, the Road Traffic (National Car Test) (Amendment) Regulations 2020 provided for a four-month extension to test due dates for certain vehicles as a result of the suspension of the NCT Service on 28 March 2020.
This extension automatically applies to:
- vehicles with an NCT certificate in force on 28 March 2020; and
- vehicles with a first test due falling during the period beginning on 28 March 2020 and ending on 31 July 2020.
Where a vehicle was eligible for a four-month extension, and where the driving test date fell within the period of that four-month extension, then the vehicle would meet the criteria required for being used in a driving test. However, the onus would on the person undertaking the driving test to provide evidence that the extension applies in respect of their vehicle.
The operation of vehicle driver testing is the statutory responsibility of the Road Safety Authority, and I have no role in individual cases.
I have referred the question to the Authority for direct reply. I would ask the Deputy to contact my office if a response has not been received within ten days.
